Family Orientation

Welcome Families

In addition to student orientation events, Berklee offers a family orientation program specifically for parents and families of incoming students. You'll have opportunities to experience Berklee through the perspective of a student, discover available resources, and learn how you can support your student through this transition. We look forward to welcoming our newest Berklee families to our community!

Family orientation takes place three times a year: in January for spring semester entering families, in May for summer semester entering families, and in August for fall semester entering families. We know not all families are able to join us in person in Boston, so our educational content is delivered online via webinars, virtual drop-in question-and-answer sessions, our online orientation course, and family email newsletters leading up to each entering semester. For those joining us in Boston: when your student arrives for orientation, we will offer opportunities to connect with other new family members and explore campus and the Boston area; however, there will be limited informational sessions as content will be delivered in advance. If you have any questions, please email f amilies@berklee.edu.

Fall 2026 New Families

To be added to our Fall New Family Newsletter Series, sign up here. In the meantime, you can review our communications sent so far below.

May 4, 2026: Helping you prepare for the fall 2026 semester and beyond

May 29, 2026: Essential updates and upcoming events to help your student stay on track for fall arrival

June 18, 2026: Upcoming events and important deadlines and to help stay on track for fall

July 10, 2026: July updates and deadlines

July 29, 2026: Final checklists, upcoming deadlines, and countdown to move-in

Families joining us in person for our Fall Family Orientation should plan to be at Berklee starting on the morning of Saturday, August 22, 2026 (Move-In Day), and wrapping up by early evening on Sunday, August 23, 2026. See the full schedule below in the drop-down menu.

If you plan to join us in person, please visit our Family Orientation Registration Form. More schedule information will be posted here and shared with registrants soon.

Pre-Arrival Events and Resources

The Orientation and First Year Experience team puts together a series of webinars, virtual question-and-answer sessions, and virtual student socials to make sure entering students feel ready and excited to join us. Find out more about these programs and register below.

Webinar Series

You and your student are invited to join us for our webinars series where you’ll learn about how to prepare for your first year and connect with resources and support. Click on the link below to register:

Webinar Schedule

New Student and Family Welcome Webinar

Thursday, May 7, 8 p.m.–9 p.m., ET

Our team will detail what to expect from Fall Orientation, while representatives from Housing, Admissions, and One Stop will cover essential next steps regarding move-in, enrollment steps, and financial requirements, and more!

Watch the recording on our Recorded Webinars page.

Berklee College of Music Next Steps Webinar

Friday, June 5, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., ET

You will hear from various core music departments to learn more about how to get ready for a successful enrollment; meet with your instrumental department chair; and find out how to prepare for your Entering Student Placement Assessments (ESPA), which enables Berklee to determine whether advanced levels of arranging, harmony, and ear training are right for you and to place you in classes with students of similar musical knowledge.

Watch the recording on our Recorded Webinars page.

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Next Steps Webinar

Monday, June 8, 10 a.m.–11 a.m., ET

This webinar will cover the items in the "Next Steps" tab of the admissions portal, where to locate financial aid information, health and immunizations information, details about the private teacher preference form (for select majors), the I-20/F-1 visa application, and more.

Watch the recording on our Recorded Webinars page.

International Student Services Webinar

Tuesday, June 16, 9 a.m.–10 a.m., ET

This webinar provides a comprehensive roadmap for navigating the visa process, pre-arrival logistics, and the transition to campus life. Our International Student Service advisors will break down the latest immigration requirements and health protocols to ensure you arrive prepared and confident for the start of the semester.

Watch the recording on our Recorded Webinars page.

Student Success Programs Webinar

Wednesday, July 8, 10 a.m.–11 a.m., ET

This session focuses on the specific tasks necessary to access our support systems, including registering with Accessibility Resources, connecting with Identity-Based Programs, and understanding how to utilize Success Advising and Core Music Tutoring. We will also outline the essential health forms and insurance requirements managed by Health and Wellness.

Life on Campus Webinar

Tuesday, August 4, 2 p.m.–3 p.m., ET

Join Campus Life and Housing and Residential Education for a preview of your upcoming transition to Berklee. We will break down the must-know move-in logistics, including arrival windows and packing tips, to ensure a seamless transition into your new home. We will also share ways to get involved on campus and learn exactly what to expect during our comprehensive student and family orientation programs.

Please note: All webinars are in Eastern Time and will be recorded. Webinar recordings will be posted and available on our Recorded Webinars page within three business days of the webinar date. Webinars are open to all new students and family members joining Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee for the fall 2026 semester, beginning in August.

Virtual Drop-In Q&A Sessions

In addition to our webinar series support, we also offer and host a series of virtual question-and answer sessions to make sure you feel fully confident and connected to us at Berklee. Drop in any time during the one-and-a-half hour sessions and we will be ready to support you one on one. These sessions will feature our campus partners from a variety of offices. The offices represented include: Admissions, Health and Wellness, Campus Life, Housing and Residential Education, International Student Services, One Stop Student Services, Student Success Advising, and Accessibility Resources for Students. All session times are listed in Eastern Time. Register below:

Virtual Q&A Schedule

Tuesday, June 23, 1 p.m.–2:30 p.m.: Register
Tuesday, July 28, 2 p.m.–3:30 p.m.: Register
Tuesday, August 11, 1 p.m.–2:30 p.m.: Register

Family Orientation Schedule at a Glance

View Family Orientation Schedule

Saturday, August 22, 2026

9 a.m.–5 p.m.: Move In
9 a.m.–5 p.m.: New Student and Family Welcome and Check-In Center
11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m.: Campus Tours
12 p.m. and 2 p.m.: Shopping Trips
5–6:30 p.m.: Family Welcome Social

Sunday, August 23, 2026

9–9:45 a.m.: Supporting Your Berklee Student
10–10:50 a.m.: Berklee Bridge Presentation Family Session
11 a.m.–12 p.m.: Berklee College of Music Conversation with the Deans
11 a.m.–12 p.m.: Boston Conservatory at Berklee Divisional Welcome Addresses
12–1 p.m.: A Day in the Life of a Student Panel
2–4 p.m.: Berklee Bridge Resource Fair
4–8 p.m.: Bookstore Welcome Night
4–5 p.m.: Convocation (Option 1)
6–7 p.m.: Convocation (Option 2)

Orientation Onboarding Course

To help you and your student get started on the right foot, you will complete an Orientation Onboarding Course with information tailored to you and your student. This online course, your guide for starting your Berklee journey, is divided into these student-led modules:

Welcome to Berklee
Academics
Student Support
Life on Campus
Careers
Paying for College
Campus Policies and Safety

We strongly encourage you and your student to complete the course before arriving at Berklee. This free, non-credit-bearing online course takes approximately 45 minutes to complete and is self-paced, meaning you may take breaks anytime and resume where you left off. While the course can be viewed on a mobile phone, we recommend using a laptop for the best experience.

Note: Students will receive details about the course in May after they receive their Berklee OnePass credentials. Families will be able to go through the course by creating a guest login at the link above.

Hotel Accommodations

We have a number of nearby hotels we partner with during move-in and orientation. These hotels offer a discounted rate for Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee students and families. Discounts range from 10 to 15 percent off. Visit our Hotels and Accommodations page for more information.

Virtual Tours

To learn more about Berklee's physical campus, including our state-of-the-art facilities, classrooms, and performance spaces, we encourage you to take a virtual tour.

Connect

Interested in connecting with other Berklee parents and families? Join the Berklee Parents and Families Facebook group to stay engaged and receive updates.

View additional resources and events offered to Berklee families throughout the year.